WHY DOES CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES LACK DIVERSITY?

By DR CHANDRAKANT SHAH, MD, FRCPC. O.ON

The media revelation about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s black/brown-face photos was followed by his repentant admission about white privilege and a large “blind spot” which in social science literature is described as “unconscious bias”.

This bias is pervasive in our Canadian society. Let me provide you with a concrete issue I, as a member of visible minority, am dealing with.

The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is a not-for-profit corporation and the Corporate Board Members are the Ministers of Health from Territories and all Provinces except for Quebec. Ministers appoint the Board Members who are responsible for the governance of the organization.

The Board and Executive Team displayed on their website lacks any members of visible minorities. In December 2015, I brought this to the attention of their Board Chair and requested board policy and composition of staff members in CBS pertaining to equity-seeking groups viz. visible minorities, women, Indigenous people and persons with disabilities. Board Chair reassured me that I was right in my observation and their board would address the issue.

I did not receive any Board policy; I suspect none existed. I had also requested the data on proportion of equity seeking groups among their staff composition at different level such as upper management, middle management of organization. He referred this request to the management. I received the following reply from Ms. Judie Leach, Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary via e-mail on January 16, 2019:

“Thanks for your interest in our diversity and inclusion work. I’ll chime in to help with providing clarification around the specific question you raised. Please note that we are not part of the reporting regime of interest to you and as such do not have the reports you seek. This reporting obligation arises out of the federal Employment Equity Act, which only applies to federally regulated employers. CBS continues to be a not-for-profit corporation, which is funded by the provincial governments; our Members are the Ministers of Health across the country. As such, CBS is neither a federally regulated employer nor a federal contractor.

 I trust that this helps to provide some clarification around the reports that are the subject of your specific inquiry.”

 As stated in her letter, the Canadian Blood Services is essentially funded by Canadian taxpayers via their ministries of health. To my knowledge, blood donors come from all walks of life including from those equity-seeking groups. The above answer from the Vice-President of Canadian Blood Services which is funded by the public, is unacceptable in 2019, and also indicates insensitivities and a large blind spot!

Canadians are smug about our record on racism and discrimination compared to our neighbour in the south, but I urge all of us to look in a mirror and ask, “Why is the Canadian Blood Services is so pale?”

I seek your help on an important issue regarding social justice, equity and addressing systemic discrimination in Canada. Please see the petition I am circulating on the weblink below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUBOjInO_2777hQR3rZCdCHoKL4BqqDfpo8sIg4qP0K-DtvA/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you agree, please sign indicating your consent. Please circulate it on your networks and share on social media if you desire. The more signatures the better!

I am now 83 years old, and hoping that this, perhaps my last public act in the area of advocacy to make Canada a better society for all its citizens will have a positive outcome.

Bless you for your concern for fellow citizens!